To attend group sessions

[NotHereToMakeFriends]

Hi All,

I've been on the waiting list for counselling sessions for over 2 years after a relapse and breakdown. I attended some free sessions which they recommended about a year ago but got taken off them as they realised I wasn't making progress and still felt really down.

They have suggested new group sessions at the hospital but the problem is they are for three months, Tuesday 10-12pm. I have a full-time job which is reasonable new and I'm trying to maintain an element of normality in my life even when I don't feel like it. I phoned them to say that I couldn't attend the sessions due to work commitments and they mentioned I might be taken off the waiting list for individual counselling because of my absence from these sessions and I'm worried. I've been to CBT before (I've had problems on and off for years) and it did work and helped me get back on track but I can't afford the time off.

Any advice on what I can do?

I went to one group session. Had a break down in the loo halfway through and told the ladies running it that I didn't think it was for me and they told me not to come back to group and they would refer me up for 1 to 1 cbt

I had been in waiting list for therapy for a year. I got a new job and week before I was supposed to start I got a letter that my therapy will start next week. I informed the employer and they were fine me to go to therapy.

@undead my employer isn't great when it comes to mental health issues. They are quite judgemental about them and I mentioned this to my doctor and they said they would try to get me for evening sessions so I could work around it but this hasn't happened.

@nothingcanhurtmewithmyeyesshut this happened to me. They told me that they would rush me through to 1-2-1 CBT but I went for a consultation about 9 months ago and they said that the waiting list was so long that I had to go back to group.

I waited months as well. Then when I eventually got there I had 4 sessions and the therapist said he was referring me up to secondary mental health services as he only took people for a maximum of 12 sessions and he was worried about me coping after that. I was an urgent referral and still waiting 4 assessments and 18 months later.

Just spoke to the therapist who referred me about the group sessions and mentioned that they would be impractical around work. She told me that all the therapist work 9-5 which is similar hours to me. I asked her to put me back on the 1-2-1 list which could be another 2 years wait. That would be 4 years wait. I understand that other people need the service as well and I hate being selfish but it's a long time to wait.